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10 Mar 2008 : Column 69W—continued
Water: Conservation
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what support her Department provides for retrofitting grey water collection and distribution systems to blocks of flats when they are refurbished. [191462]
Mr. Iain Wright: The Department does not provide any specific programmes of support for retrofitting grey water collection and distribution systems to blocks of flats when they are refurbished. In its recently published water strategy for England, “Future Water”
the Government undertook to work with others to develop standards for non-potable use so as to develop confidence in these developing technologies. More generally, enhanced capital allowances are available for businesses which purchase rainwater reuse systems and other technologies on the Water Technology List. In addition, new homes built to reach the higher levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes are likely to install systems for using water from non-potable sources such as rainwater harvesting or grey water recycling.
Olympics
Volunteering
6. Ms Keeble: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps she plans to take to enable students to take part in volunteering programmes for delivery of the 2012 Olympic Games. [192308]
Tessa Jowell: We expect volunteering to be boosted by the profile it will get through the Games, as in Sydney where 50,000 volunteers were a key element of the success. The London Organising Committee estimate that 70,000 volunteers will be involved in the 2012 Games, and their volunteering launch will be in Autumn 2010. It is too early to say what the role of students might be, but 42,000 students volunteer already every year, including in sport.
Media Facilities
7. Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what discussions she has had with her Chinese counterpart on the provision of media facilities as part of preparations to host the Olympic Games. [192309]
Tessa Jowell: When I met the leaders of the Beijing Organising Committee last year I impressed on them the importance of the free movement of journalists for the 2008 Games, and I discussed China’s progress with British journalists based in China. I am very pleased that new regulations to this effect were introduced in China in January. This is very positive, but more needs to be done and we are encouraging China to extend this freedom beyond 2008 and to China's domestic media too, so that it is a real legacy from the Games. I raised this again with senior Chinese representatives visiting London last month.
Developing Countries
8. Ian Lucas: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for International Development on the participation of developing countries in the 2012 Olympic Games. [192310]
Tessa Jowell: There have been a number of discussions at ministerial and official level with DFID regarding the “International Inspiration” programme.
The programme—which is already under way in India, Zambia, Brazil, Azerbaijan and Palau (in Micronesia)—and to which DFID has already contributed £2 million to date, will ensure there is a real social and sporting legacy from the Games beyond the UK.
I am hopeful that we will expand the programme yet further between now and 2012, subject to funding.
Overseas Spectators
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps she is taking to promote the 2012 Olympic Games to overseas spectators. [192307]
Tessa Jowell: The handover ceremonies at the end of the Beijing Olympic Games and Paralympic Games this summer provide a starting point for promoting the 2012 Games. They will focus the world’s attention on Britain. Visit Britain, UKTI, FCO, and the British Council are working together to promote this opportunity for Britain, alongside Visit London and other London agencies. Visit Britain will engage with the estimated 40,000 global media representatives present in Beijing to promote this country. An estimated 321,000 additional visitors will come to London for the Games. A framework for marketing the UK was published in October by DCMS in “Winning—the tourism strategy for 2012”.
Home Department
Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent estimate is of the number of (a) male and (b) female binge drinkers according to the definition of binge drinking used in the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy. [184044]
Jacqui Smith: I would refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Public Health on 21 February 2008, Official Report, column 943W.
Alcoholic Drinks: Young People
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons under the age of 18 years had alcohol seized by Humberside Police in each of the last five years, broken down by division. [189395]
Jacqui Smith: The Home Office does not routinely record or hold this information.
Animal Welfare
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on the sale of (a) exotic animals and (b) endangered species; and if she will make a statement. [190882]
Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
My officials have regular dialogue on the sale of and trade in endangered species with representatives of the trade, wildlife NGOs, other members of the European Community and members of the public.
So far this year, I have met representatives of IFAW, the Born Free Foundation and Wildlife and Countryside Link to discuss wildlife trade.
Animal Welfare: Imports
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what legislation the (a) import and (b) export of (i) exotic animals and (ii) endangered species is regulated; what changes have been made since enactment; and if she will make a statement. [190793]
Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
Council Regulation (EC) No. 338/07 regulates trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora. Commission Regulation (EC) No. 865/2006 lays down the detailed rules concerning the implementation of the council regulation and has direct effect in EU member states. The commission regulations are regularly updated and amended following changes agreed by parties to the convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES). The commission regulations were more recently amended on 4 February by Commission Regulation 100/2008.
Council Directive 92/65 lays down animal health requirements governing trade within, and imports into, the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules. This can include exotic and endangered species, but they are not separately identified. The directive is implemented in England by the Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (England) Regulations 2006 (as amended). Similar legislation applies in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and it is enforced by local authorities.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) exotic animals and (b) endangered species were imported into the UK in each year since 1997, broken down by species. [190794]
Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
Since 1 January 1997, the UK CITES Management Authority received 106,533 applications for imports of endangered species into the UK. I have arranged for a detailed breakdown of the species imported to be placed in the Library of the House.
Asylum
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent estimate is of the number of failed asylum seekers in the United Kingdom. [192007]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 6 March 2008]: No Government have ever been able to produce an accurate figure for the number of people who are in the country illegally and this includes failed asylum seekers. By its very nature it is impossible to quantify accurately and that remains the case.
Exit controls were phased out from 1994. As part of the Government’s 10-point plan for delivery, by Christmas 2008 the majority of foreign nationals will be counted in and out of the country. This will build on the successes of our early testing of the e-Borders programme (Project Semaphore) which already covers over 30 million passenger movements and has led to 18,000 alerts and more than 1,500 arrests.
This is part of a sweeping programme of border protection which also includes the global roll-out of fingerprint visas, compulsory watch-list checks for all travellers from high-risk countries before they land in Britain and ID cards for foreign nationals.
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of failed asylum seekers in the United Kingdom who are unable to return to their country of origin because they cannot obtain the necessary permission from those countries. [192074]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 6 March 2008]: The information requested could be obtained by the detailed examination of individual case records only at disproportionate cost.
British Nationality: Assessments
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the people currently required to retake Knowledge of Life in the UK tests at each test centre have already been granted citizenship; and if she will make a statement. [191536]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 4 March 2008]: The information requested could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make provision for applicants undertaking the Life in the UK test who speak English as their first language but who have a low level of literacy. [192148]
Mr. Byrne: We are not aware of any particular difficulties being encountered by native English speakers taking the Life in the UK test as a result of low levels of literacy. The pass rate for those who have English as a first language is generally higher than for those who do not.
There are no plans to make specific literacy support available for applicants taking the Life in the UK test as literacy and numeracy programmes are widely available at adult, further education and community colleges. Test centre staff will give appropriate advice to candidates whose competence in language or literacy is felt to be insufficient for them to take the test.
Coroners: Armed Forces
Mr. Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy to exclude all inquests relating to deaths in the course of military operations from the powers given to her in the Counter-Terrorism Bill which would allow her to certify that a coroner's inquest be held without a jury. [191865]
Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
I refer the right hon. Member to my answers today.
Counter-Terrorism Bill
Mr. Gummer:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has
received from other governments on Part 6 of the Counter-Terrorism Bill. [191866]
Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
No representations have been received from any other governments on Part 6 of the Counter-Terrorism Bill.
Fairtrade Initiative
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will take steps to promote Fair Trade Fortnight 2008 among staff within her Department; and if she will make a statement. [189506]
Mr. Byrne: While there are no plans this year specifically to promote Fairtrade Fortnight, the Home Office encourages suppliers to offer fairtrade products. Items such as chocolate, biscuits and orange juice are available in its staff restaurant and coffee shops. The Department also provides fairtrade tea and coffee at official meetings at some of its key buildings. A fairtrade fair was held in December in 2 Marsham street where staff were able to see and purchase a range of fairtrade products.
Humberside Police
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) police strength and (b) budget was for Humberside Police Force in each year since 1997. [192093]
Mr. McNulty: The information is set out in the following table. As the force’s budget also supports the employment of all other police personnel the table includes police staff and police community support officers.
| Humberside police | ||||
| Police officer strength | Police staff strength | Police community support officers | Force budget (£ million) | |
| (1) 2005-06 figures have been adjusted for purposes of comparison with future years following the transfer of pensions and security funding from general grant in 2006-07. (2) Strength as at 30 September 2007. | ||||
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